Oral Corticosteroids:
Quick Relief Medication

Prednisolone (Orapred, Prelone, Pediapred)
Prednisone (Deltasone)

How Oral Corticosteroids Work:
Oral corticosteroids help decrease swelling in the airways. They are quicker and stronger than inhaled steroids. Oral corticosteroids are usually used for quick relief for asthma flare-ups and are not used as a daily medication.

How To Take Your Oral Corticosteroid:
Oral corticosteroids come in tablets or liquids that are taken by mouth. Your doctor or midlevel will usually prescribe a short “burst” of the medication for just a few days. If a longer course of oral corticosteroids is needed, you may be told how to slowly decrease the dose so that your body can safely adjust.

Remember:
• Oral corticosteroids should be taken with food to prevent a stomach ache.
• If you are only taking your oral steroid one time a day, take that dose in the morning.

Side Effects:
Some short-term side effects of oral corticosteroids may include
• increased appetite
• swelling due to fluid retention
• mood changes
• nausea
• facial flushing
• weight gain

Other more serious side effects that could occur if oral corticosteroids are used daily or every other day for more than a month are high blood pressure, cataract formation, possible low bone calcium, suppression of the body’s own natural steroid hormone release and high blood pressure. With short, infrequent courses of oral corticosteroids, serious side effects are unlikely to occur.

Store all medications out of a child’s reach. If your child or someone else takes too much of any medicine, call the Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-282-5846.